The Warrior of Peace

The warrior is marching down the road, his sword sharpened, his mind set on battle. He meets a Master and his disciple. The Master says, “My son, where are you going with such fierce determination?”

The warrior answers, “The enemy has attacked our nation. He has destroyed two of our tallest buildings and taken away our peace. I go to destroy the enemy and bring back peace!”

The Master asks, “My son, if the enemy took away peace through violence, how can more violence bring back peace?”

The warrior declares, “There is no other way. When the enemy is destroyed, peace will return!”

The Master replies, “My son, I perceive that your heart is troubled. It is filled with anger and hatred towards the enemy. Might it be the anger and hatred that has taken away peace?”

The warrior says, “The enemy created the anger. Once the enemy is destroyed, the hatred will be gone and my peace will return!”

The Masters tries again, “My son, if the enemy caused your anger, then the enemy must rule your inner world. Perhaps you should conquer the enemy within before you do battle with the enemy without? Perhaps you should find peace in your heart before you attempt to bring peace to the world?”

The warrior declares, “I cannot find peace until the enemy is destroyed!” Then he marches on without looking back.

The Master smiles gently and walks on. His student exclaims, “Master, he did not understand your wisdom and is headed for his own destruction. How can you seem so unconcerned? Let us run after him and save him from himself!”

The Master replies, “My dearest student, if I preach inner peace, how can I let my own peace be disturbed by someone rejecting my message?

Besides, while his body might be destroyed, his soul will live on. One day the soul will tire of trying to bring peace by fighting outer enemies. It will discover the enemy within, and eventually it will discover the inner source of peace.

While we can seek to help others learn their lessons, we must never seek to force them.

Peace cannot be brought through force. Conflict is the absence of peace. Peace cannot be brought by removing conflict. Outer peace can be brought only through inner peace. The only way to bring peace is to BE peace wherever there is non-peace. Begin with yourself, my dear student!